Lot #666: Two Bermuda Twenty-Five Cents Coins - 1994 and 1997 - Queen Elizabeth II - Maklouf "3rd Portrait" - Bermuda Longtail

This lot features two Bermuda Twenty-Five Cents Coins, one from 1994, and the other from 1997. Obverse: Features the third official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Raphael David Maklouf (his initials RDM are visible at the base of the neck). The Image: The Queen is shown wearing the George IV State Diadem and the diamond necklace she wore on her Coronation Day. This portrait was intended to be more "timeless" and regal than the previous version. Lettering: BERMUDA ELIZABETH II Reverse: Features the Bermuda Longtail (Phaethon lepturus catbyi), a local subspecies of the White-tailed Tropicbird. The Longtail is the unofficial national bird of Bermuda. Its appearance each spring is celebrated by locals as the first sign of the season. Created by Michael Rizzello, the bird is shown in flight, emphasizing its exceptionally long tail feathers. Lettering: TWENTY-FIVE CENTS and the date: 1994 on one coin, and 1997 on the other. The Bermuda 1994 Twenty-Five Cents Coin is a classic example of British Overseas Territory coinage, featuring high-quality engraving and a focus on local fauna. This specific year features the "3rd Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth II, which was used throughout the Commonwealth during the late 1980s and 1990s. Because the Bermuda Dollar is pegged 1:1 with the US Dollar, this coin was produced to strict weight and size standards to be compatible with vending machines that accepted US or Canadian quarters. Dimensions: Copper-Nickel 24.2 mm. 5.95 g (Almost identical to a modern Canadian Quarter) Pickup category timeslot {A}